Brewers Hitters Feast on Dodgers Bullpen in Late Win

Aug 15, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett (2) is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run in the eighth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off a split in a four-game series with the Cubs, the Brewers flew to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers.

The first game of the series pitted Jimmy Nelson (2-3, 4.00 ERA) against former Brewer Zack Greinke (12-8, 2.84 ERA).

The Brewers faced Greinke on August 9th and beat him, with him giving up four runs in six innings of work. Nelson pitched against the Dodgers on August 10th. He gave up two runs in six innings of work in a loss to Clayton Kershaw.

For seven innings it looked like the Dodgers were going to squeak by with a low scoring win on the speedy of Dee Gordon, but the Crew broke out for five runs in the eight and cruised to a 6-3 victory over the team with the best record in the National League.

Jonathan Lucroy knocked a one-out single to right in the top of the first for the Brewers; he moved to single on a two-out single to right by Aramis Ramirez to cap a 10-pitch at bat.

Dee Gordon led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single to the right side. He stole second and moved to third as Lucroy’s throw sailed into center field. Yasiel Puig followed with a single up the middle to drive him home.

After an Adrian Gonzalez fly out, Matt Kemp walked to put two on for Carl Crawford. Crawford bounced into a fielder’s choice. Jean Segura fielded and fired to second to get Kemp.

Crawford stole second with Juan Uribe at the plate, but Nelson struck out Uribe to end the inning.

Greinke had the only hit for either team in the second inning as both pitchers settled down after giving up two hits in the first inning each.

A Lucroy walk was it for the Brewers in their half of the third. In the Dodger third Gonzalez knocked a one-out single up the middle. Matt Kemp followed with a fielder’s choice grounder up the middle. Segura retired Gonzalez at second, but Kemp beat the throw to first.

Kemp stole second base with Crawford at the plate. Nelson had Kemp picked off, but they Brewers mishandled the run down to put Kemp at second. Nelson got Crawford to ground out to Scooter Gennett at second base to end the inning.

Khris Davis drew a two-out walk in the Brewer half of the fourth inning. Mark Reynolds followed with a walk of his own to put two on for Segura who also walked to load the bases for Nelson but the big righty struck out to end the inning.

Uribe led off the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle. A.J. Ellis grounded into a double play. Segura fell down fielding the ball but the Brewers still managed to turn two. Miguel Rojas grounded out to end the inning.

With two-outs in the top of the fifth, Ryan Braun walked on a 10-pitch at bat, after Lucroy struck out on a seven-pitch at bat. The Brewers were doing a good job of getting Greinke to throw pitches. Ramirez struck out to end the inning.

That was it for Greinke. Despite throwing a two-hit shut out, he was pulled after five innings because he was at 99 pitches as the Brewers offense battled him. He walked five batters, and struck out six.

Nelson hit pinch-hitter Darwin Barney to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Gordon followed with a bouncer back to the mound, and Nelson took the out at second on Barney for the first out. Segura made a good throw to first, but they had no shot at the speedy Gordon.

With Puig batting, Gordon stole second after five pick-off attempts and a pitch out. Puig knocked a single up the middle on a 3-0 count to drive in Gordon and give L.A. a 2-0 lead.

Nelson struck out Gonzalez for the second out of the inning. Kemp flew out weakly to right to end the inning.

Pedro Baez came on to pitch the sixth for the Dodgers and set the Brewers down in order in the inning. Nelson returned the favor in the bottom half of the frame, setting down the Dodgers in order.

Baez returned to the bump for the seventh inning for the Dodgers. Segura drew a four-pitch walk to lead off the inning and bring up pinch hitter Gerardo Parra, hitting for Nelson.

Parra popped out. Gomez followed with a grounder up the middle and after getting the out at second the throw hit Segura and he was called for interference, making Gomez out. Throw hit Segura’s outstretched arm, so the call looked to be correct.

Brandon Kintzler came on to pitch the seventh for Milwaukee. Nelson went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He walked one, hit one, and struck out four. After getting two quick outs, Kintzler gave up a single to Gordon to extend the inning, but with Puig batting Lucroy threw out Gordon trying to steal second to end it.

Former Brewer, and 19-year major league veteran, Jamey Wright came on to pitch the eighth for the Dodgers. Braun singled with one out in the frame to give the Brewers some life. Ramirez followed with a broken-bat single to left to put two on.

Gennett belted a single to right to bring Braun home from second, cutting the lead in half. Davis followed with a double to right-center to bring in Ramirez to tie the game and move Gennett to third.

Wright intentionally walked Reynolds to get to Segura. Rickie Weeks came out to pinch-hit for Segura. Segura appeared to hurt his hand on the double play he interfered with.

That was it for Wright, as Don Mattingly called for Brandon League to face Weeks. League struck out Weeks for the second out of the inning. Lyle Overbay came on to pinch-hit for Kintzler. Overbay lined a double down the line in left to clear the bases and give Milwaukee a 5-2 lead. Gomez bounced out to end the inning.

Freshly in the lead, Will Smith came on to pitch the eighth for Milwaukee and Elian Herrera took over at short. Puig led off the inning with a double to left. Smith struck out Gonzalez for the first out.

With Kemp hitting Puig took third base on a wild pitch by Smith. Kemp knocked a fly to center; Gomez made a diving catch on it for the second out of the inning, and Puig came in to score cutting the lead to 5-3. Smith struck out Crawford to end the inning.

Carlos Frias came on to pitch the ninth for the Dodgers. Lucroy doubled to lead off the inning for the Brewers. After a Braun fly out, Ramirez was intentionally walked to put two on for Gennett who knocked a single to left to drive in Lucroy and give Milwaukee a 6-3 lead.

Francisco Rodriguez came on to work the save for Milwaukee. He struck out Justin Turner to open the inning. A.J. Ellis bounced out to short for the second out. Rojas grounded out to Ramirez to end the game.

Kintzler got the win for Milwaukee out of the bullpen. Wright took the loss for the Dodgers. K-Rod earned the save, his 37th. The save tied K-Rod with Rollie Fingers at 11th on the all-time saves list.

The series continues tomorrow at 8:10 pm when Yovani Gallardo (7-6, 3.44 ERA) takes on Clayton Kershaw (14-2, 1.78 ERA). It will be the seventh time in 15 days that the Brewers squared off against a former Cy Young award winner.